Trust and Obey

From the song, “Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

Swindoll says, “Numbers tells the story of a tragic pilgrimage where people who knew better didn’t do better and suffered the consequences.”  An 11 day journey stretched into 38 years because the Israelites failed to obey God when he told them to go in and occupy the land of Canaan.  They did not trust God to give them what He had promised. God was very angry with his people. Again, Moses interceded for them and again, God answered Moses’ prayer and spared them.  But He told them that all the people who were 20 years old or older would die before the Israelites could enter Canaan, all except Joshua and Caleb who had trusted God and urged the people to obey Him.

The people mourned because of God’s words.  The next morning they got up and decided to enter Canaan after all. Moses warned them not to go.  It was too late for them to obey God and go in.  They went anyway, but the Amalekites and Canaanites defeated them because they took matters into their own hands rather than obeying God.  

Korah, Dathan, and Abiram led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron.  They were jealous of Moses’ authority and leadership position, and they accused Moses and Aaron of exalting themselves.  Moses and Aaron appealed to God.  The next day God caused an earthquake to swallow up the rebels and their families and fire to consume some of the rebels’ followers.  God takes sin very seriously.

The Israelites came to Kadesh in the desert of Zin and there was no water for them to drink. They complained to Moses and Aaron as usual.  Moses and Aaron took the problem to God, and God pointed out a rock.  He told Moses and Aaron to speak to the rock in front of the people.  Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, but they disobeyed God’s instructions.  Moses didn’t speak to the rock; he hit it twice with his staff instead.  And Moses said to the gathered crowd, “Listen, you rebels, must WE bring you water out of this rock?”  Moses was planning to take credit for what God was going to do.  God was very displeased.  Many acts of obedience do not make up for any act of disobedience.  God did not allow Moses and Aaron to enter the promised land as punishment.  Leaders are held to a stricter standard because they are role models, and their punishment serves as an example for others.  It doesn’t matter who we are or what we have done for God or what excuses we have; God always expects obedience.  No one is exempt!

Father, may we always trust and obey You.  Amen.